DISHORNING CLAVES

Otago Witness, Issue 2757, 16 January 1907, Page 8

DISHORNING CLAVES

(Field, November 10.) The achantages of dishorning, or, more properly, of preventirg the growth r f horns on, store cattle are co appreciable that it is surprising that the practice is not more extensively adopted. From a comparatnely early age till the tune they reach the shambles horned cattle are a source of annoyance and risk to the interests of their owneis. Even on the pastures animals arc frequently injured from being attacked by some infuriated or mischievous companion ; but it is when they are confined in the bheds or in the course of a journey by road or lail that the horn nuisance is most visibly revealed. When the animals are tied up in stalls the presence or absence of horns may be of insignificant account, but under all other circumstances horns are undeeirable in the highest degree. The preference which graziers show for hornless cattle is the strongest and most convincing evidence of this fact that the breeder coulct obtain, and it is an extraordinary fact that he manifests so little regard for the wi-hes of his customers, and, indirectly, for his own pocket. It is quite a simple matter to prevent the growth of horns if the process is attended to at the proper moment. All that 16 necessary is, when the calves are a few weeks old, to nip off the tip of the horn while it is still soft, and apply a dressing of caiiitic potash. Indeed, the mere cutting off of the horn without the fuboequeut use of any caustic has been found to answer, but the application of some burning material makes the method all the more effectual. If carried out- when the calf is young the o/peration incurs tnfling inconvenience or suffering to the animal, and in this respect contrasts pleasantly with the suffering that used to reaiilt fiom the operation of dishorning full-grown animals, which happily is now no longer legal in England, although st'U permissible north of the Tweed. Hornless cattle, it has been noticed, are as a xule more docile and contented than horned slock, which seem to harbour the limpresbion that, having been provided with weapons of warfare, it is their duty as well as their privilege to make use of them against their fellow creatures.

This remark does not apply to the same extent to breeding stock, but holds good ac most graziers will affirm, in tho case cf two or three-year-old bullocks, which arc notoriously pugnacious at every available opportunity. There is no doubt that the preference for hornless stock has aided materially in popularising the black or blue grade cattle of the north with graziers in al partb of the country. The Aberdeen Angus and Galloway breeds and their crosses po»se-s strong claims to high favour irrespective of their advantages m tlu6 reepect, but many intances could be cited in which they would probably not ha\e been puichased in preference to other types had it, not been for their inability to injure horses or other stock with which they are pastured. Owners of thoroughbred studs in\anably select hornless cattle in preferonce to horned to occupy the pastur.-e in which their colts and fillies graze ; and thus breeders of shorthorn and other horned types lose a good class of customer through their failure to dishorn their btore calves in the simple manner indicated. At this time of the year perhaps, more than any other, graziers have reason to regret that they invested in horned stock. For weeks after the fcuiaajilg are confined in the bbeds.

in alt probability throughout the whole winter, the peace and quietness of the entire lot will be disturbed by the lighting inclinations of a few of their number. Not is the injury that is likely to result from, goring the only danger and loss that is to apprehended, though that may be serious enough. In almost every batch of cattle there are one or two representatives, usually the smaller, selected as the objects upon which the rough and evil inclinations of their companions may be expended, and these as a rule .require a longer time to grow and mature sufficiently for the fat market. The reason for this is that, apart from being the objects of abuse and ;lltreatment, they are prevented by their tyrinnical masters from obtaining their proper share of the food, rations, and &ie indeed literally starved. Their removal to another yard or shed would, of course, effect a remedy as far as they are concerned, but in all probability the bullies of the lot would select some others upon which to vent their evil inclinations. The dishorning process ia more commonly adopted! than was the case 10 years ago, but it is still far from being as general as it ought to be, and it is unfortunate that it should be so difficult to convince breeders of the extent to which the value of their animals is depreciated in consequence < f their neglect to apply the simple remedy which is ever ready at hand.